Of course, Dove didn’t fault her father, as he was doing what he’d thought was best. And for the most part, she considered herself to be the model of propriety. She was respected in her father’s congregation and adored by the villagers, many of whom had complimented her on her genteel upbringing.
What they all didn’t know was the side of Dove that she desperately tried to suppress, the shameful, carnal nature that had first been awakened when that man had ventured through their village. She still remembered the sight of his sandy blond hair shining in the sun and that devil-may-care smile that hid the serpent beneath, for surely he was Satan himself, intent on devouring an innocent young woman for sport.
Thankfully, they had been discovered in the stables by Mrs. Decker before things had gone any farther, and while the innkeeper hadn’t told her father of the incident for Dove’s reputation’s sake, it was the disappointment in the older woman’s gaze that had been the most difficult to bear.
Just like then, Dove was sliding down a treacherous cliff.
But this time, there might not be anyone there to save her.
It was a sobering thought and one she took to heart as she opened the volume and began to read.
Show me…
Cain knew it wouldn’t be any use to take himself in hand this night. It might offer his burning lust a temporary relief, but the moment he was in Dove’s presence, his cock would flare back to pulsing life.
Instead, he’d chosen to shake off his insomnia by having a drink in the inn’s taproom. While there weren’t many occupants in the middle of the night, he was surprised to see Mrs. Decker was still awake. When he remarked on the fact, she merely smiled as she finished wiping down another table.
“When you own a business, my lord, the work never ceases.”
“But when do you rest?” he asked.
“Oh, I find the time to catch a nap now and then when it’s not overly busy, but the best time to clean is when everything is empty.” She shrugged. “I suppose it’s also a time when I can allow myself to think without interruption.”
Cain nodded, because he couldn’t disagree with that reasoning.
“I wonder why you’re up at this hour though,” she noted curiously. “But then, I guess you’re not yet used to country hours. I’ve heard some people stay up in London until the wee hours of the morning.”
“Sometimes even until the sun is fully risen,” Cain corrected. “But no. The change in my current circumstances isn’t the reason for my unrest. Let’s just say it’s… complicated.”
He offered her a sideways grin and she nodded her head. “Ah, I know that look.” She crossed her arms. “You have lady troubles.”
He winced. “Am I so transparent? If so, I must be losing my touch.”
She laughed. “Not at all. At my age, my lord, with various travelers coming in and out of that front door, you start to recognize a thing or two.” She pointed a finger at him. “And I know that uncertain expression you’re wearing now.”
“In that case,” he murmured. “Would you have any advice for this helpless viscount?”
Mrs. Decker crossed her arms in apparent thought and then relented with a sigh. Pulling out a chair, she sat down across from him and regarded him steadily. “If my suspicions are true, that you have taken a fancy to our Dove, then I would caution you.”
He didn’t miss the way she said our, as if Dove actually belonged to the villagers. “My intentions toward the lady may not be entirely platonic, but I am not completely without scruples or a conscience.”
She glanced at the table, as if choosing her words carefully. “Not all men are like you, Lord Markel. Dove has been injured once before, by a man not unlike yourself. He was the epitome of a proper gentleman, but I knew it was only for show. But as much as I tried to caution her against allowing her heart to become engaged, she was headstrong in her devotion. I caught them in the stables just before—” She stopped and straightened, as if remembering that she was talking to an “outsider” in their midst. “I didn’t tell her father because I knew she would suffer enough from a broken heart and I didn’t want to damage her reputation. All of us make mistakes that we wish we could forget, and I have cared about that girl since she was in pinafores.” Her focus never wavered from his face. “You should know that I will do whatever it takes to ensure she isn’t faced with that decision again. At eighteen, the affair nearly destroyed her. I can’t watch her suffer again when I can prevent it.”
Cain slowly unclenched his fists. He’d tightened them when Mrs. Decker had mentioned the scoundrel who had used Dove so carelessly. Now, he inclined his head. “I understand completely, and I do not blame you for your concern. I can see that you consider yourself as her female role model since her mother is no longer alive, and I commend you for it.” He frowned down at his nearly empty mug of ale. “I wish I could ease your concerns, but my mind is conflicted when it comes to Miss Meriwether. I won’t deny that I feel something for her, but I can’t yet put it into words. I’ve lived a disgraceful life for so long that I can’t say I’m even capable of strong emotions.”
She got up from the chair and said, “Until you figure that out, my lord, my suggestion is to keep your distance and try to remember that you were brought up to be better than the last man who promised her the world and broke her heart.”
Cain’s frown deepened as Mrs. Decker took her leave. Staring into the mug in front of him, he lifted it to his lips and drained the last of the contents. But nothing would dull the conversation he’d just had.
Dove was waiting in the church the next morning to practice for the play with script in hand. Not everyone had arrived yet, including Lord Markel, but she told herself it no longer mattered. She might feel flutters in her stomach when he was near, but she was here to celebrate the church and do the Lord’s work, not to allow herself to explore some torrid fascination.
Perhaps she had learned something from Fordyce’s Sermons after all. Henceforth, she would endeavor to be the model of feminine propriety and ignore those damning, inner longings.
The front door of the church opened and with the sun at his back, Cai—Lord Markel strode in, his tall, lean silhouette conveying grace and confidence. When the familiar urges began thumping against her ribs, Dove looked down at her script and began to recite her lines as Mary.
The last of the remaining playactors entered after Lord Markel and their excitement caught her attention, so she glanced up once more. She pretended an indifference as the viscount took his place beside her on the stage and offered her a brief, but polite nod.
“I’m telling you, I’ve never seen anything like it!”
